BDCI MEN IN LYCRA CYCLE CHALLENGE
 
The day of reckoning has finally come and today the four intrepid BDCI Men in Lycra depart on their 800km fundraising cycle around meat plants in England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.  The four riders are:
 
*     Mark Allan, General Manager, Dawn Meats Cardington
*     John Mercer, Chief Livestock Adviser, England and Wales, NFU
*     Stuart Roberts, Agriculture and Livestock Director, ABP
*     Eoin Ryan, Sales and Marketing Manager, AIBP
 
The BDCI is the meat industry’s very own trade charity and it exists to provide support for those who work (or have previously worked), in the meat industry, but have fallen on hard times, regardless of their age or circumstances.  In addition to securing sponsorship and raising funds for the charity, a key objective will be to generate awareness of the work of the charity to potential beneficiaries en route, so the ride will take in a number of meat plants along the way in order to do so. Planned stops include:

15/08/11 ABP, Shrewsbury → Randall Parker → Dunbia, Llanybydder
16/08/11 Llanybydder → Dawn Cross Hands, Pembroke
17/08/11 Pembrokeshire Show → Fishguard Ferry Terminal → Rosslare, Enniscorthy
18/08/11 Enniscorthy → Slaney Meats, Bunclody → Dawn Farm Foods, Naas → Dublin
19/08/11 Bord Bia, Dublin → Kepak, Clonea → Hilton, Drogheda → ABP, Ardee → Hackballscross
20/08/11 Hackballscross → ABP, Newry → Belfast
21/08/11 Stranraer → Ayr
22/08/11 AK Stoddart → Vion Food → NFUS → QMS → Edinburgh
 
Thank you to all those companies and individuals who have already donated sponsorship funds in support of the ride.  If you would like to show your support please click through to our Just Giving page; http://www.justgiving.com/bdcimeninlycra
 
Alternatively you can send a cheque, made payable to Butchers' and Drovers' Charitable Institution which can be posted to:
Sally Ross, BDCI, 105 St Peter's Street, St Albans, Herts. AL1 3EJ.  If paying by cheque please indicate that the donation is for the BDCI Men in Lycra Cycle.
 
We are deeply conscious that these are challenging times for many and are therefore doubly grateful for all support given.
 
Finally, if you haven't yet done so do have a look at the riders' blog - http://bdcimeninlycra.wordpress.com/ - which has been kindly set up by Ed Bedington, editor of the Meat Trades Journal.  Rarely has such zeal been shown in preparing for a sporting event.....